Webcast July 27, 2005

Weekly Rewind

CARL AZUZ, CNN STUDENT NEWS ANCHOR: Thanks for keeping your cool with another summer edition of CNN Student News! From the CNN Center in Atlanta, I'm Carl Azuz. On the day we put this update together, the summer sun was bearing down from Alaska to Florida, with record highs being posted in those two states and Colorado. A closer look at this deadly heat wave is included in our latest weekly rewind.

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DISCOVERY LAUNCH: Three...two...one and liftoff of Space Shuttle Discovery, beginning America's new journey to the moon, Mars and beyond.

Commander Eileen Collins, right, and mission specialist Stephen Robinson float in the weightlessness of space.

CARL AZUZ, CNN STUDENT NEWS ANCHOR: With Commander Eileen Collins at the helm, space shuttle Discovery thundered out of this world on July 26th, getting NASA's shuttle program back off the ground. The goals of its 12-day mission include bringing supplies and making repairs to the International Space Station. Meanwhile, officials are paying close attention to what appears to be two pieces of falling debris detected during liftoff. Debris was blamed for fatally damaging the shuttle Columbia in 2003.

A round of attempted bombings startled the British capital on July 21st, but caused no casualties. The incidents occurred exactly two weeks after similar attacks on the city's transit system killed 52 people, plus four bombers. The day after the failed bombings, British police gunned down an unarmed Brazilian national. They had followed him after he left a house that was being investigated for possible terrorist ties. Police said the man, who was later found to have no connections to terrorism, behaved suspiciously and refused to obey orders to stop; But they also apologized for the incident, and the British government is compensating his family.

WITTINESS: I turned my face, I saw that people being injured, bleeding, running screaming...

A soldier guards the Old Market in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, where 17 people were killed last Saturday.

AZUZ: Tree bombings in the Egyptian resort town of Sharm el-Sheikh killed 84 people and wounded another 200. Authorities said at least two of the blasts were caused by suicide bombers. Sharm el-Sheikh accounts for about one-fourth of Egypt's tourism revenue. And the state department is urging Americans to exercise caution when traveling to the region.

Back in the U.S., a tragedy involving four Scout leaders in Virginia, who were setting up for the Boy Scouts National Jamboree. The men were killed when the tent pole they were installing struck an overhead power line. The jamboree takes place every four years, and it includes tens of thousands of Boy Scouts, leaders and volunteers.

And for many folks from coast to coast, saying 'it's hot' is a vast understatement.

MATT KELSCH, METEOROLOGIST: Every summer, as the sun angle increases and we get more sunshine into the continent, we tend to develop what we call a big dome of warm air over the land regions.

AZUZ: That big dome this year has contributed to dozens of deaths across the country, and prompted the National Weather Service to post "excessive heat" advisories from Nebraska to Washington, DC. Staying hydrated and resting frequently during exercise, are two ways that you can protect yourself from overheating.

Armstrong said his record seventh Tour win was a reward for hard work.

And finally this week, cycling champ Lance Armstrong is retiring at the ripe old age of 33, right after conquering the sport's toughest challenge, for a record seventh time straight.

LANCE ARMSTRONG, 7-TIME WINNER, TOUR DE FRANCE: This is a hard sporting event and hard work wins it. So Vive le Tour, forever.

AZUZ: The undisputed Tour de France champion of the world will be trading his rough rides through the mountains, for relaxing afternoons with his family and girl friend Sheryl Crow.

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Rewind - Space Shuttles

CARL AZUZ, CNN STUDENT NEWS ANCHOR: Now for a quick rewind on NASA's space shuttle program. The shuttles carry satellites and other cargo into space. They can also be used on repair missions. Five shuttles have flown into space: Atlantis, Challenger, Columbia, Discovery, and Endeavor. The shuttle Columbia was the first; it's maiden voyage was in 1981. Columbia disintegrated on its re-entry into earth's atmosphere on February 1st, 2003, killing all seven astronauts aboard. And the shuttle Challenger was also destroyed in flight, shortly after liftoff in 1986.

CNNstudentnews.com

CARL AZUZ, CNN STUDENT NEWS ANCHOR: For a quiz on our Weekly Rewind stories, check out our free curriculum materials right here at CNNstudentnews.com. We've got your summer current events covered with a weekly news quiz, prepared by educators, for educators.

Before We Go

CARL AZUZ, CNN STUDENT NEWS ANCHOR: Now before we go today... We'd like to walk you over to England, for an event that actually makes you want to finish, toes up. Yessiree, we're talking about the twelfth world toe rasslin' championships, where winning is no little feat. After a ref yells the words, "toes away," it's up to competitors to go toe-to-toe, demonstrating a little heel-and-toe talent, to force their opponents into what's called a "toedown." The winner of this year's men's competition has tread the paths of victory before: This was the second time that "the toeminator," felt the thrill of victory.

Goodbye

CARL AZUZ, CNN STUDENT NEWS ANCHOR: ...And believe me, that's a whole lot better than da agony of da feet. We'll leave it there for now. But as the dog days of August approach, be sure to continue to keep tabs on current events, with CNN Student News. I'm Carl Azuz.